Shadow of the Beast

From Sega Retro

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SotB Title.png

Shadow of the Beast
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts (EU/US), Victor Musical Industries (JP),
Sega Master System
TecMagik
Developer:
Original system(s): Amiga
Developer(s) of original games: Reflections Interactive
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
Sound Images v1.0
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥8,8008,800 T-60023
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$59.0059.00[4] 709101
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		E195SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Sega Master System
EU 		27019-50
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR 		025270

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Shadow of the Beast, called Shadow of the Beast: Mashou no Okite (シャドー･オブ･ザ･ビースト 魔性の掟) in Japan, is an action game developed by Reflections Interactive for the Commodore Amiga and published by Psygnosis. It was brought to a variety of systems including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System in 1991 and 1992 respectively. It was followed by Shadow of the Beast II and the Amiga-exclusive Shadow of the Beast III.

Gameplay

You play as the Beast Messenger. Born a human child and kidnapped at a young age by mages who serve the Beast Lord, you were transformed into a monster and had all your memories wiped to enter a lifetime of servitude. However, suddenly, all your memories return to you and you seek revenge and escape.

A and C jump. B punches. B in midair kicks. The players has 12 hit points. Losing all of them (gradually or through instant kill attacks/traps) restarts the game as there are no lives. A bazooka-like weapon can be found later on. A short flying section also exists. Hit detection is very strict. Often the player will run into situations were damage is basically unavoidable, or it's more convenient to take a hit on purpose and use the resulting invincibility to avoid further damage by running away.

The game was a baby step into the realm of non-linear game design, as stages can be at least partially explored and re-explored without having all key items. A fixed set of objectives needs to be performed to play the full however.

After collecting the bazooka, the games graphics can glitch when dying or after leaving the castle. (TODO: Confirm this also happens in the Japanese version)

Versions

The Amiga version was considered impressive for it's time with atmospheric soundtrack and graphics, which had multiple scrolling planes, color usage and diverse graphics, however the Sega Mega Drive was scaled back, with some enemies missing or their position being altered.

The Mega Drive game was not optimised for North American NTSC-U machines, and so runs too fast. This was corrected in the Japanese release, which also makes adjustments to the graphics, adds a proper ending sequence and includes a much need additional healing item in a later stage. The changes were reportedly made at the request of Japanese publisher Victor Musical Industries.

Master Systen version is even more scaled back from the Mega Drive port. Most of the interior background art is removed and replaced with simplified dark or blue backgrounds. It has no cutscenes like the ones seen in 16bit ports and instead they are replaced with black and white text.

Developers of the Master System version somehow felt the need to introduce an inventory system to the game. In every other version, power ups and other items are instantly used while in the Master System port, they are added to the inventory, which is accessible by pressing 2 button. While this can be considered a benefical update, as it allows players to stock up and use items later, inventory can only carry 7 items and game gives no clue about the item in your possession. Not even the manual explains what these items do and only way to find out their effects is to use them, which may result in players wasting a precious quest item and potentially ruin the game. (Used quest items do not return) In the original game, all common and important items are used immidiately after picking up. Using button 2 as an inventory screen also forces players to use up in the direction pad to jump, not the best button configuration for a side scrolling platforming game. Why developers decided to make this baffling change is unknown.

Master System version is also announces the player every time a boss appears, making this the only port of the game in which names of the bosses can be seen.

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Shadow of the Beast Shadow of the Beast
English (US) Shadow of the Beast Shadow of the Beast
Japanese シャドー･オブ･ザ･ビースト 魔性の掟 Shadow of the Beast: Mashou no Okite

Magazine articles

Main article: Shadow of the Beast/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Shadow of the Beast/Promotional material.

Artwork

  • SotB MD Art Cover.jpg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
42 [6]
58 [7]
56 [8]
51 [9]
84 [10]
90 №31, p34
84 №3, p23
78 [11]
60 №1992-04, p85
90 [12]
84 №4
83 [13]
62 №5, p94
48 №9, p21
50 [14]
82 [15]
73 [16]
70 [17]
34 №2/92, p167
66 [18]
79 [19]
68 №18, p67
54 [20]
80 [21]
37 [22]
Sega Mega Drive
 67
Based on
25 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[23]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
52
[24]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
58
[25]
Consoles + (FR)
75
[26]
Console XS (UK) PAL
78
[27]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7 (RU)
40
[28]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
51
[9]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
84
[4]
Gamers (DE)
33
[29]
Games-X (UK)
90
[30]
Génération 4 (FR)
78
[11]
Game Zone (UK) PAL
84
[31]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[32]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
90
[33]
Joypad (FR)
84
[34]
Joystick (FR)
83
[13]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
62
[35]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
51
[36]
Mega (UK) PAL
48
[37]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
80
[38]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
51
[39]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
50
[40]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
82
[41]
Micro News (FR)
75
[42]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
82
[43]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
82
[44]
Megazone (AU)
79
[45]
Player One (FR)
73
[46]
Play Time (DE)
70
[17]
Power Play (DE)
34
[47]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
66
[48]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
79
[19]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
68
[49]
Sega Force Mega (UK)
54
[20]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
80
[50]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
56
[8]
Tilt (FR)
95
[51]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
52
[52]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
60
[53]
Video Games (DE)
37
[22]
Sega Mega Drive
 66
Based on
40 reviews

Shadow of the Beast

Mega Drive, US
SotB MD US Box.jpg
Cover
SotB MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Shadow Of The Beast MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Shadow Of The Beast MD US Poster.pdf
Poster
Mega Drive, EU
SotB MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
SotB MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Shadow of the Beast MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, JP
SotB MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
ShadowoftheBeast MD JP CartTop.jpg
SotB MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Shadow of the Beast MD JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, BR
SotB MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
SotB MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92 [54]
82 [55]
80 [56]
86 [57]
90 №44
90 №3, p21-22
90 [12]
94 №2, p104-106
92 [58]
90 [59]
80 №53, p85
80 [60]
80 [61]
79 [62]
90 [63]
90 [21]
92 [64]
66 [65]
Sega Master System
 86
Based on
18 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
92
[66]
Console XS (UK) PAL
90
[67]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
82
[5]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
80
[56]
Game Power (IT)
86
[68]
Games-X (UK)
90
[69]
Game Zone (UK) PAL
90
[70]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
90
[33]
Joypad (FR) PAL
94
[71]
Joystick (FR)
92
[58]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
85
[72]
Mega Force (FR)
90
[73]
Mega Force (ES) PAL
90
[74]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
80
[75]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
80
[76]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
80
[77]
Player One (FR)
80
[61]
Play Time (DE)
41
[78]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
79
[62]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[79]
Sega Pro (UK)
90
[80]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[81]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
90
[50]
Supersonic (FR)
92
[82]
Video Games (DE)
66
[65]
Sega Master System
 84
Based on
25 reviews

Shadow of the Beast

Master System, EU
SotB SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
SotB SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU

SotB SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
SotB SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Sotb sms br cart.jpg
Cart
Sotb sms br manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 1575581d
MD5 abc8a9e43c588c7d0535cc8305bdbf94
SHA-1 45943b021cbaee80a149b80ddb6f3fb5eb8b9e43
256kB Cartridge (EU)

References

  1. ↑ Sega Power, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-10-30), page 11
  2. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 33
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 GamePro, "November 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 52
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Computer & Video Games, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-15), page 100
  6. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1992" (DE; 1992-01-10), page 128 (124)
  7. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 35 (37)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 87
  10. ↑ GamePro, "November 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 48 (52)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Génération 4, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 138
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Hobby Consolas, "Febrero 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 40-41 (40)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Joystick, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 182
  14. ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 50-52 (50)
  15. ↑ Mean Machines, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-28), page 120-122 (122)
  16. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 62-63 (62)
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Play Time, "3/92" (DE; 1992-02-05), page 87
  18. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 32-33 (32)
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 71
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Sega Force Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-24), page 89
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 32-34 (32)
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Video Games, "1/92" (DE; 1992-02-03), page 30
  23. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 203
  24. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1992" (DE; 1992-01-10), page 128
  25. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 37
  26. ↑ Consoles +, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 50
  27. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 133
  28. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 250
  29. ↑ Gamers, "Februar/März 1992" (DE; 1992-xx-xx), page 33
  30. ↑ Games-X, "21st-27th November 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 34
  31. ↑ Game Zone, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-18), page 23
  32. ↑ Hippon Super, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-04), page 85
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Hobby Consolas, "Febrero 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 40
  34. ↑ Joypad, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1991-12-1x), page 92
  35. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 94
  36. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "June 1992" (JP; 1992-05-08), page 83
  37. ↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
  38. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 93
  39. ↑ Mega Fun, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-xx), page 42
  40. ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 50
  41. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 31
  42. ↑ Micro News, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 204
  43. ↑ Mean Machines, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-28), page 122
  44. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
  45. ↑ Megazone, "April/May 1992" (AU; 1992-0x-xx), page 41
  46. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 62
  47. ↑ Power Play, "2/92" (DE; 1992-01-xx), page 167
  48. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 32
  49. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 30
  51. ↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 46
  52. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 154
  53. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "December 1991" (US; 1991-1x-xx), page 54
  54. ↑ Consoles +, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-05), page 114-115 (106)
  55. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-15), page 100-101 (100)
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 154
  57. ↑ Game Power, "Gennaio 1992" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 38-39 (40)
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 Joystick, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 148
  59. ↑ Mega Force, "Mayo 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 74-75 (74)
  60. ↑ Mean Machines, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-29), page 74-76 (74)
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 Player One, "Avril 1992" (FR; 1992-04-10), page 93
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 Sega Power, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-05), page 48
  63. ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 48-49 (48)
  64. ↑ Supersonic, "Mai/Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 24 (20)
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 Video Games, "4/91" (DE; 1991-12-06), page 39
  66. ↑ Consoles +, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-05), page 114
  67. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 144
  68. ↑ Game Power, "Gennaio 1992" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 40
  69. ↑ Games-X, "27th February-4th March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-27), page 24
  70. ↑ Game Zone, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-18), page 21
  71. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-1x), page 104
  72. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 73
  73. ↑ Mega Force, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-05-05), page 70
  74. ↑ Mega Force, "Mayo 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 74
  75. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Octubre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 85
  76. ↑ Mean Machines, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-29), page 74
  77. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
  78. ↑ Play Time, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-03), page 95
  79. ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 48
  80. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 28
  81. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  82. ↑ Supersonic, "Mai/Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 20
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